Amusement device



May 16, 1939. w. p. KEITH ET AL 4 2,153,073

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Nov. 4, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig.1 v Fjg 2Wayland D. Keith Ronald WWalker INVENTORS.

- QQ/JBMWMZZ M ATTORNEY.

May 16, 1939. w. D. K EITH ET AL 2,158,073

AMUSEMENT DEVICE v Filed Nov. 4, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wayland D. K ei th Ron aid W Walker INVENTORS. 24 25 22 QJ Ufi/x JWW.

0d ATTORNEY.

?atentecl May 16, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AMUSEMENT DEVIGEWayland 1), Keith, Wichita Falls, and Ronald W. Walker, Meg'argel, Tex.;said Walker assignor to said Keith The invention is primarily designedto provide entertaining apparatus of the .riding car type in which thepassenger is enabled to control the movements of the car within certainlimitations to attain thrills and emotions out of the ordinary and notpossible with mechanism having a predetermined movement.

In accordance with the invention the cars are pivotally mounted totravel in a variety of paths and each may be equipped with a power unitand passenger control whereby the occupant may obtain independentmovement and experience a sensation and emotion not obtainable bydevices of the nature aforesaid as ordinarily provided.

In general, the present invention embodies a pole, arms mounted on thepole and adapted to receive a twofold movement, the one to. revolveabout the pole as an axis, and the other to turn about an axisprependicular to the axis of the pole, cars pivoted to the outer ends ofthe arms to normally maintain a given relative position, a power unitand passenger control for attaining an independent movement within therange of and capability of the car.

While the drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention,it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet specific needsand requirements, the design may be varied and changes in the minordetails of construction may be resorted to within the scope of theinvention as claimed, without. departing from the spirit thereof.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof,reference is to be had to the following description and the drawingshereto attached, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of an embodiment of the invention, the basebeing in section and parts broken away.

Figure 2 is a top plan view, the guys being omitted.

Figure 3 is a front View similar to Figure 1. Figure 4 is an enlargedView on the line 4--4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail perspective view on the line 5-5 ofFigure 3.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 3, showingthe parts on a larger scale.

Figure '7 is a detail sectional view on the line 1-1 of Figure 1,showing arrangement of bearings in arm and in car.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and designated in the .arms ll.

several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The machine, as shown, consists of a pole embodying sections Hie-Illaflanged and bolted at their abutting ends. and strengthened by trussed 5braces I01). A hollow base 9 receives the lower end of the pole and uys36 extend from a bearing 35 fitted to the upper end of the pole. A

mount 2 la within the base 9 is surmounted by a bearing 2| journalingthe pole. A worm gear 10 I1 is connected to the pole and a worm I8 is inmesh therewith and is driven by a motor IS. A brake drum 20a (see Fig.6.) fast upon the pole has a brake band 20 in cooperation therewith.

A pedal 20d mounted upon the base 9 is con- 15 nected by link 20.0 withlever 20b to which the ends of the brake band 20 are connected.

A horizontal shaft I3 is mounted intermediate its. ends in the polesection lila and has a pair of arms ll secured to each'end thereof. Agear 20 wheel IE on the shaft l3 and fast thereto is in mesh with apinion l5 secured to the shaft of an electric motor 14 mounted on thepole. A brake 28, similar to the brake 20-401; is associated with theshaft I3 and is electrically operated by 25 an electromagnet 21 andlever 29. The arms H a of each pair are parallel and diagonally bracedand pivotally support cars l2 between their adiacent outer ends. Thecars 12 may be of any design and are pivotally journaled at (Fig. 'l) 30on transverse shafts [2b, which shafts lZb are journaled in bearings Ilain the arms H. An electric motor 38 may be associated with each of thecars and is mounted on the inner one of the A worm 40 on the motorarmature 35 shaft is in mesh with a worm gear 40a fixed to the shaftl2b. In consequence, when the motor 38 is running, the shaft i2?) isrotated and turns the brake drum 42 attached thereto forming a clutch onsaid shaft, as shown in Fig. 4. A brake 4o 'coacts with each of the carsl2 and consists of a drum 42 keyed at 43 to the shaft and a brake band4| attached at its ends to a lever 44 connected by a link with an arm44a fixed to a shaft xjournaled in the car 12, which shaft carries a 45lever, the opposite ends of which are connected with pedals 45, readilyaccessible to the occupants of the car on seats '46, and when pressedupon, either of these pedals applies the brake 4| and holds the car in afixed relation toshaft Ill). 50 If brake 4'! is applied while shaft [2bis being rotated by motor 38 car l2 will be rotated, and if said brakeis applied while motor is not running car 12 will be held in fixedrelation to shaft 121) and arms ll, relative rotation being pre- 55vented by worm 40 and worm gear 40a. The motors 38 are included incircuits having switches 39a that may be conveniently positioned to bereadily operated by the passenger of a car. These circuits also includering contacts 30 secured by blocks 36a to the innermost arms H, andhaving cooperating brushes 3'! as indicated in Figure 5 of the drawings.

The circuit, with the exception of motor I9, has ring contacts 3| andcooperating brushes 32, the rings 3! being held by blocks 3|a secured tothe pole section I (la as shown to advantage'in Figures 1, 3, and 6. Thevarious circuits are designated by the numeral 23a and are showndiagrammatically in the drawings but will be evident to one skilled inthe art, and include switches, indicated at 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26 toadmit of starting and stopping the several electrically actuatedoperating parts. The hollow base 9 is utilized as a housing for themotor l9, switches 22 to 26, ring contacts 3|, brushes 32, worm gearingl'l-I8 and brake 20, the top boards of the base serving as a loadingplatform.

When the motor I!) is running, the pole turns about a vertical axis andcauses the arms H and cars l2 to revolve in a horizontal plane. Uponstarting the motor l4, the horizontal shaft I3 is rotated and revolvesthe arms I l and the cars I2, which are pivotally mounted on the arms IIin vertical planes. Under normal conditions the cars l2 maintain a levelposition. By applying the brake 4| the car is held fast to the shaft [2band moves therewith when said shaft is rotated by motor 38 as indicatedat I2a in Fig. 1, producing a thrill due to the travel of the car in acircular path. By alternately applying and removement in addition to theorbital travel, producing an additional excitement. By starting themotor 38 the shaft [2b is rotated freely in bearings l2c with no effecton rotation of the car until brake 4| is applied, and by applying thebrake 4| the car will be held fast to the shaft 12b and rotatedtherewith. Thus the car and passenger receive a three-fold movement, oneabout the shaft [2b, the other around the shaft I3, and the third in ahorizontal plane about the pole ID as an axis. The additional thrillsare under control of the passenger through the instrumentalitiesassociated with the brake and the motor, as will be readily appreciated.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. An amusement device comprising a vertical standard, a horizontalshaft mounted intermediate the ends of the standard, driving'means forturning said'standard, independent driving means on the standard forrotating the horizontal shaft, supports fixed to said horizontal shaft,passenger cars pivotally mounted on said supports, a bearing mounting alower portion of said standard, a second bearing mounted on the upperportion of the standard above the horizontal shaft, and guying meansconnected with the upper bearing.

2. An amusement device of the character specified comprising a verticalstandard, a horizontal shaft mounted on the standard intermediate theends of said standard, driving means for turning the standard,independent driving means on the standard for rotating the horizontalshaft, supports fixed to said horizonal'sh'aft, passenger cars pivotallymounted on said supports and having braking means associated therewithin. position for operation by passengers in the cars, a bear- "ingmounted on an upper portion of said standard,

and guying means above the horizontal shaft and connected with the upperbearing.

3. An amusement device of the character specified comprising a verticalstandard, a horizontal shaft mounted on the standard intermediate theends of said standard, driving means for turning the standard,independent driving means on the stanlardfor rotating the horizontalshaft, supports on said horizontal shaft, passenger cars pivotallymounted upon said supports, said supports having motors for rotatingsaid cars on their respective axes, a bearing mounting the lowerportions of said Standard, a second bearing mounted on the upper portionof the standard above the horizontal shaft, and guying means associatedwith the upper bearing.

4. In an amusement device of the character specified, supporting meansmounted to turn about a vertical and a horizontal axis, a car pivotallymounted on said supporting means, a power unit carried by the supportingmeans for imparting an independent rotary movement to the car, manuallyoperated holding means for securing the car to the support to preventindependent movement, a control on the car for actuating the manuallyoperated holding means and for causing turning movement of the car bythe power unit.

5. In an amusement device of the character specified, supporting meansmounted .to turn about a vertical and a horizontal axis, a car pivotallymounted on said supporting means, a power unit carried by the supportingmeans for imparting an independent rotary movement to the car, and acontrol on the car for the power unit and operable by a passenger,

6. In an amusement device of the character specified, a support mountedto turn about a vertical and a horizontal axis, a car pivotally mountedon said support, a power unit for imparting an independent rotarymovement to the L.

tating the shaft, a brake mounted on said horizontal shaft, means forcontrolling said brake and independent driving means from a remotepoint, passenger cars, supports pivotally mounting the cars on saidhorizontal shaft, and passenger controlled means for imparting anindependent movement to the cars.

8. An amusement device comprising a pole, a horizontal shaft mountedintermediate its ends on the pole, driving means for turning the pole,independent driving means on the pole for rotating the shaft, passengercars, supports fixed on the horizontal shaft and pivotally mounting thecars, driving means on the supports for imparting an independent rotarymovement to the cars, and passenger controlled means'for throwing thedriving means into and out of action.

9. An amusement device comprising a pole,.a horizontal shaft mountedintermediate its ends on the pole, driving means for turning the pole,independent driving means on the pole for rotating the horizontal shaft,passenger cars, supports fixed on the horizontal shaft and pivotallymounting the cars, driving means on the supports for imparting anindependent movement to the respective cars, passenger controlled meansfor throwing the driving means into and out of action, manually operableholding means for securing the cars to the supports, and passengercontrolled means for releasing and throwing the holding means intoaction.

10. An amusement device comprising a pole, a horizontal shaft mountedintermediate its ends on the pole, driving means for turning the pole,independent driving means on the pole for rotating the shaft, arms fixedto the ends of the horizontal shaft, transverse shafts loosely mount edin the outer ends of the arms, cars loosely mounted on the transverseshafts, driving means on the arms for rotating the respective transverse shafts, a brake for each of the transverse shafts, means undercontrol of the passenger for throwing the driving means into and out ofaction, and passenger controlled means for setting and releasing thebrake as desired.

11. An amusement device comprising a hollow base, a pole mountedtherein, an electric motor in the base geared to the pole to effectturning thereof, a brake coacting with the pole and dis posed within thebase, a horizontal shaft mounted intermediate its ends on the pole, anelectric motor mounted on the pole and geared to the horizontal shaft,an electrically operated brake mounted on the pole for controlling themovement of the horizontal shaft, arms fixed upon the ends of thehorizontal shaft, transverse shafts mounted in the outer ends of saidarms, cars pivotally mounted on the transverse shafts, an electric motorfor each car geared to the supporting shaft thereof, passengercontrolled means for the motor of each car, a brake for the transverseshaft of each car, and passenger controlled means for the brake.

12. In an amusement device of the character described, the combinationof a central support, means for rotating said central support about avertical axis, a transverse support journaled intermediate its ends onsaid central support, means for rotating said transverse supportrelative to the central support and independent of the rotary movementthereof, and passenger carrying means supported at opposite ends of thetransverse support.

13. In an amusement device of the character described, the combinationof a central support, means for rotating said central support about avertical axis, a transverse support journaled on said vertical supportand extending in opposite directions therefrom, means for rotating saidtransverse support independently of the central support and relativethereto, arms carried on opposite ends of said transverse support forrotation thereby, and cars journaled on said arms.

14. In an amusement device of the character described, the combinationof a central support, means for rotating said central support about avertical axis, a transverse support journaled on said central supportand extending in opposite directions therefrom, means for rotating saidtransverse support independently of the central support and relativethereto, arms carried on opposite ends of said transverse support forrotation thereby, cars journaled in said arms, and means for securingsaid cars rigid with the arms for bodily rotation therewith, about theaxis of the transverse support.

15. In an amusement device of the character described, the combinationof a central support, means for rotating said central support about avertical axis, a transverse support journaled intermediate its ends onthe central support and extending in opposite directions therefrom,means separate from and independent of the first-mentioned driving meansfor rotating the transverse support relative to the central support, carsupporting means mounted on opposite ends of said transverse support,and cars journaled on said supporting means for swinging movement uponrotation thereof.

16. In an amusement device of the character described, the combinationof a central support, means for rotating said central support about avertical axis, a transverse support journaled intermediate its ends onthe central support and extending in opposite directions therefrom,means separate from and independent of the first-mentioned driving meansfor rotating the transverse support relative to the central support, carsupports mounted on opposite ends of said transverse support, carsjournaled on said car supports for swinging movement upon rotationthereof, and means for rigidly fixing the cars to the car supports forbodily turning of said cars with said car supports.

17. In an amusement device of the character described, the combinationof car supporting means, means mounting said car supporting means forrotation about a horizontal axis, a car journaled on the car supportingmeans for swinging movement about an axis extending approximatelyparallel with said horizontal axis, and frictional means for selectivelysecuring said car rigidly to the car supporting means for bodily turningthereof with the car supporting means.

18. In an amusement device of the character described, the combinationof car supporting means, means mounting said car supporting means forrotation respectively about vertical and horizontal axes, one or morecars journaled in the car supporting means, and frictional means forselectively securing the car or cars rigidly to the car supporting meansfor bodily turning movement therewith.

19. In an amusement device of the character described, the combinationof car supporting means, means mounting said car supporting means forrotation respectively about vertical and horizontal axes, a carjournaled on the car supporting means for swinging movement relativethereto about an axis extending approximately parallel with saidhorizontal axis, and frictional means having an operator within the carfor selectively securing said car rigidly to the car supporting meansfor bodily turning movement thereof with the car supporting means.

20. In an amusement device of the character described, the combinationof a vertical pole, means for turning said pole about a vertical axis, atransverse support, bearings spaced laterally from the pole and carryingthe transverse support, and truss braces connected with opposite endportions of the pole and with the bearings.

21. In an amusement device of the character described, the combinationof a vertical standard, means for rotating said standard, truss bracesconnected with opposite end portions of the standard and extendinglaterally therefrom at an intermediate portion, bearings carried by saidtruss braces and fixed thereto, and a transverse shaft journaled in saidbearings.

WAYLAND D. KEITH. RONALD W. WALKER.

